The tyrannical might of the Stellar Fate erupted, blanketing the heavens and earth like a mountain pressing down on everyone's hearts, making each step arduous and amplifying the pressure. Even Immortals from afar could sense it clearly, and Wine Immortal Zhen Yang standing at the foot of Shangqing Sect was no exception, marveling at the formidable power of the Stellar Fate's might.
However, what shocked him even more was the power of Jade Dragon Flying Star, who had transformed into a Stellar Fate Deity. The sheer force of a single roar could influence the natural world, causing thunderous explosions—a power that was truly terrifying.
It must be understood that sonic might is merely one type of Immortal art and supernatural ability. Many know it and can use it, but those whose mere sound can affect the natural world are exceedingly rare. Forget ordinary cultivators; even among Immortals, few can achieve this. Even those who have cultivated to the Great Perfection of the Luo Tian Immortal Realm, or great loose Immortals who have weathered eighteen tribulations—including Wine Immortal Zhen Yang, who has cultivated for tens of thousands of years—might also be able to influence natural thunder with a roar, but they typically wouldn't do so because it consumes too much power.
In contrast, Jade Dragon Flying Star, with one furious roar, showed no depletion of power whatsoever. Not only was there no depletion, but his might grew even more tyrannical, and his power became even stronger.
Yet, what truly horrified Wine Immortal Zhen Yang was his discovery that Jade Dragon Flying Star, transformed into a Stellar Fate Deity, breathed like a storm—each inhalation and exhalation resembling a tempest. It felt like a colossal deity from primordial times. It was simply unimaginable what terrifying power Jade Dragon Flying Star, now a Stellar Fate Deity, possessed at this moment.
Could Gu Qingfeng, with his weakened Human breath, withstand it?
No one knew.
Wine Immortal Zhen Yang looked over and saw that Gu Qingfeng remained standing there quietly, one hand behind his back, the other toying with that string of prayer beads. His stern face was still expressionless. Moreover, what puzzled Wine Immortal Zhen Yang even more was that, at some unknown time, Gu Qingfeng had actually closed his eyes.
What was he doing?
Similarly, no one knew.
"Gu, didn't you warn me earlier that if I didn't scram, you'd slaughter me?"
"Why aren't you making a move?"
"Are you afraid?"
Jade Dragon Flying Star, transformed into a Stellar Fate Deity, arrogantly taunted from mid-air, each word accompanied by a powerful might that shook the natural world with rumbling thunder. Meanwhile, the stars in the night sky grew increasingly brilliant and bright, illuminating the entire Weiyang Great Domain as if turning night into day.
"Gu! Prepare to die!"
Seeing no reaction from Gu Qingfeng, Jade Dragon Flying Star, as a Stellar Fate Deity, charged straight at him with his stellar sword, like a meteor—a dazzling meteor crashing toward Gu Qingfeng.
Gu Qingfeng did not move.
He hadn't from the beginning.
He hadn't moved when Jade Dragon Flying Star transformed into a Stellar Fate Deity earlier, and he still didn't move now as Jade Dragon Flying Star thrust his sword at him. Even when Jade Dragon Flying Star appeared before him, he remained motionless, merely closing his eyes and toying with that ancient string of prayer beads.
Everyone watched this scene intently.
They all wanted to see how the Stellar Fate's son, bearing a great destiny, would slay the renowned Chixiao Monarch.
But when Jade Dragon Flying Star appeared before Gu Qingfeng, an unbelievable scene unfolded before everyone's eyes.
Jade Dragon Flying Star, transformed into a Stellar Fate Deity, actually... actually also froze motionless.
Everyone saw clearly: the moment Jade Dragon Flying Star flashed into appearance, he inexplicably came to a standstill there, stellar sword in hand, pointing at Gu Qingfeng.
Not only was he frozen.
The thunderous explosions in the natural world also ceased.
The stars in the night sky stopped flickering.
Even the wind, even time itself, seemed to freeze in that moment.
This scene was like a painting—thrilling yet exquisite.
Everything, everything was still.
No!
Not everything.
Many noticed that only Jade Dragon Flying Star, the Stellar Fate Deity, was frozen. Across from him, Gu Qingfeng was not motionless—at the very least, his right hand was still toying with that ancient string of prayer beads, never stopping, his thumb repeatedly sliding over one bead after another.
At this moment.
The entire Weiyang Great Domain instantly plunged into utter silence.
Silent as in serene.
Still as in dead.
The sect masters and elders of various sects, though not frozen, dared not move. They stood there dumbfounded, eyes wide, filled with terror, horror, and trembling, not even daring to breathe. Everyone's spirit was stretched to the breaking point. This feeling was like falling into the abyss of hell, where a God of Death slept, and none dared to wake or disturb this deity.
Yes.
That was precisely the feeling.
For some reason, at this moment, in everyone's eyes, Gu Qingfeng was the God of Death.
Time passed, drop by drop.
No one knew exactly how long had passed, only that the brilliant, bright stars in the night sky gradually dimmed until they vanished.
Darkness descended once more.
Accompanying it was an even more intense silence.
An absolute silence.
That serene stillness made them feel suffocated with fear; that dead stillness twisted their very souls.
Wine Immortal Zhen Yang, standing at the foot of Shangqing Sect, also felt immense pressure. That absolute sense of silence not only made his entire body uncomfortable and breathless but also caused cold sweat to break out all over. He wanted to summon his Immortal spirit to resist, but it was utterly useless. His spirit was terrified to death, his nerves stretched to the limit. He wanted to leave this place, but taking a single step was exceedingly difficult. Struggling against the pressure, he managed three steps before Wine Immortal Zhen Yang felt his mind on the verge of collapse, the world spinning. The overwhelming might made him feel as if his physical body was about to be crushed.
Then.
Thud!
An Immortal finally couldn't withstand the silence belonging to this darkness and collapsed to the ground.
Thud!
Another.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
One Immortal after another succumbed, collapsing to the ground.
No one knew how many Immortals fell.
No one cared.
Here.
Su Hua wasn't faring well either. Though she could still stand in mid-air and endure, that was all. That absolute sense of silence also pressured her greatly, her delicate face beginning to pale.
"What kind of might is this? How can it be so terrifying?"
Su Hua, in her previous life as a Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, had witnessed countless forms of might, but she had never encountered one so mysteriously eerie and utterly terrifying.
"This is no longer mere might..." Nalan Qianqiu said.
"Then what is it?"
Nalan Qianqiu shook her head, whether she didn't know or didn't wish to say.
Within the scene.
Wuya still lay collapsed on the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably, his face ashen. Earlier, he had been distraught, despairing and regretful. Now, he no longer felt despair, nor regret—only fear, endless fear.
Not far away.
Ten Thousand Flowers Rain also lay collapsed on the ground.
Earlier.
Like Jade Dragon Flying Star, he had been unwilling, prepared to summon his own Stellar Fate Deity incarnation to slay Gu Qingfeng and salvage his dignity. But just as he was about to summon it, someone in the shadows stopped him. He didn't know who had stopped him, and at this moment, he no longer wanted to know, for fear had already tightly enveloped his soul.
At the foot of Shangqing Sect.
Gu Qingfeng stood.
Stood straight.
Like a solitary peak.
A white robe fluttered slightly.
Three thousand strands of black hair drifted gently.
One hand behind his back, the other toying with that string of prayer beads, his thumb sliding over one bead after another, the sliding growing slower and slower.